Transmission mechanism



TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed sept. 11, 1922 s sheLs-sneez'l l L S Si L96 E msaa March 20, A1928.

H. A. SCHULTZE TRANSMI SSION MEGHANI SM 3 Shee ts-'Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l1, 1922 March 209 192%@ I LGGSZS H. A. scHuL'rzE TRANSMIssIcSN MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, `1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

Fries,

HELMU'JJH A sCIIULTzE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon 'ro muxo-moriva COR- ronA'rIoN, or CHICAGO, ILLINO1s,A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Application led September 11, 1922.v Serial No. 587,274.

My invention relates to transmission mechanism for automobiles, trucks and the like, of the sliding gear type and has for its Object the provision of a construction which will enable the gears to be easily shifted for any change in speed without clashing of the gears and therefore without noise and possible damage; that is to say, my invention relates toa transmission wherein the transmis-- sion shaft, or shaft on which the shiftable gears are slidablyx mounted, will be relieved of its load momentarily before and during each speed change, thereby lessening the the detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein v 'Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my improvedtransmission and its enclosed housing or casing.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of a ortion of a rear clutch controllingv mec anism shown in neutral position.v

Figure 4`is a similar view of the mechanism showing its position when the transmlssion has been shifted into one of the speed.

changes.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the mechanism in a position resulting when the transmission is shifted to provide another speed change.

Figure 6 is a top plan View ofthe construction as illustrated in Figure 1 with the top of the casing removed.

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective of one of the elements of the rear clutch controlling mechanism.

la'- bor and skill required for operation ofhe Y Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective of a second element employed in the rear clutch controlling mechanism.' i In the particular exemplification of the lnyention, the various elements of the transmission are mounted and enclosed in a suitable housing 10 which may be of the usual we ll known construction, formed to receive suitable bearings as at 11 at the forward end4 of the housing for the drive or power-imparting shaft 12'which is provided with and leads rearwardly from the usual'foot-o erated clutch, not shown. The inner en of the drive shaft 12 is shown counterbored to receive and provide suitable bearing for the reduced end of the transmission shaft 13 i whose opposite .end is mounted in suitable bearings at 14 in the opposite wall ofthe housing 10. This end'of the transmission. shaft is shown disposed through the wall lof the main housing 10 andypreferably enlarged and terminating in or provided with a clutch member 15. The transmission shaft 13 is also shown splined and provided with gears 16 and 17, slidably mounted thereon.

The gear 16 is shown internally toothed to receive the extended" toothed or clutch portion of a ear 18 which is secured to the inner end o the drive shaft 12 ;4 themain porstant mesh with a gear 19 keyed to the countershaft 20 suitably mounted lin the lower part of the housing 10. The countershaft 20- is also shown provided with gears 21, 22 and 23 which may be integrally formed if desired or separately keyed to the countershaft.

The gear 16 on the transmission shaft 13 isadapted to mesh with gear 21 on the countershaft when gear 16 has been shifted to the right in Figure 1 and gear 17 on the transmission shaft 13 is adapted to mesh with gear 22 on the countershaft when gear 17 has been shifted to the left in Figure 1; 'the transmission mechanism, as illustrated in Figure 1, being shown in neutral or inoperative position. y

The upper part of the housing 10 is provided with rods or members, for example two as shown at 24 and 2 5, each of which is provided with a shifting fork or element as at 26 and 27, respectively, see Figures 1 and 6. The shifting forks are slotted to receive thel lower spherical end of the control lever tion ofthe gear 18 being arranged in conu 28 which has ball and socket mounting at 2.9 in a suitable dome or upward extension formed on the top or cover of the housing 10 inthe usual well known manner; the control lever 28 being mounted to permit both forward and rearward oscillation as well as lateral oscillation, with the lower end disposed intermediate of the socketed portions of the shifting forks 26 and 27 and' therefore in a path intermediate of the vertical planes of the rods 24 and 25.

Each fork 26 and 27 is adapted to have operative relation or controlling connection with one of the slidably mounted gears on the transmission shaft 13; for example, the shifting fork 26 has controlling relation with the gear 17, while the/fork 27 is adapted to have controlling connection with'- the gear The forks 26 and 27 are secured to the rods 24 and 25, respectively, so as to c'ause the rods to be shifted or slid in a lengthwise direction; the ends ofthe rods being slidably mounted in the side walls of the housing.

The gear 23 on the counter shaft 20 is .adapted vto mesh with an idler gear (not Y shown) suitably mounted in the housing and therefore the transmission shaft will be adapted to be brought into operation whenA the gear 17 on the transmission shaft 13 has been shifted, namely'to the right in Figure 1.

As the major-portion of the mechanism shown enclosed in the main housing 10, and

its operation is that of a well known type of' transmission at present in use, further detailed description need not be entered into. The transmission mechanism, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, permits of' as disclosed. in Figure 1, will cause gear 16 to mesh with gear 21 on the ycountershaft; and as the countershaft is in 'constant rotation by reason of gear 19 thereon being in constant mesh with the gear 18 on the drive shaft, the transmission shaft 13 will be rotated at a different speedlfrom that induced when it is directly connected with the drive shaft 12 as previously stated. U on shifting' gear 17 `on the transmission s aft 13 to the left in Figure l, it will be brought into mesh with gear 22 on the countershaft and driven at a lesser speed because of the different gear ratios; while shifting of gear 17 to the right in Figure 1 is presumed to brin it into mesh with an idler gear (not shown? extended or provided with an extension or f auxiliary housing of 'suitable construction as illustrated at 30 -which is adapted to receive the outer or clutch end 15 of the transmission shaft 13 and also toreceive the extended ends of the fork-carrying slide rods, namely rods 24 and 25. Each of the slide rods is shownprovided with a plurality of grooves or sockets as at 31 and 31a arranged at predetermined points and in spaced relation corresponding with the degree of movement necessary for shifting' the respective gears on the transmission shaft into their various operative positions; the. depressions or sockets 31 and 31a in the particular exemplification of the invention being shown arranged along the sides of the slide-rods.`

Suitably mounted in the auxiliary housing 30 and preferably intermediate of the forkcarrying slide rods and the side walls of the housing I provide the controllin members or -levers 32 and 33; the levers' eing pivotally mounted, to swing about their pivot points 34 formed byy suitable lugs or brackets at 35 in the housing so that the short ends of the levers or controlling members may oscillate horizontally or rather in directions toward and away from the fork-carrying slide rods 24 and 25, respectively. The levers or controlling members may each be of single piece construction or the two portions or arms of the lever so secured as to move together and in view of the fact that these controlling members or levers are preferably intended to be in lapping relation with each other and disposed across the tops of the fork-carrying slide rods, the levers 32 and 33 are offset so that the long arms 36 of the controlling membersy 32 and 33 are disposed from the upper sides of the short arms 37 see Figure 7; while the long arm of the one member, say lever 32, vis prei'- erably farther from the upper side of the short arm thereof in order that the two long arms of both levers 32 and 33 may be in close lapping relation.

The short arms 37 of the levers 32 and 33 are each preferably providedwith a small roller or friction reducing element as at 38 which is adapted to ride along the grooved -or socketed side of the res ective fork-V carryin slide rod; the rol er 38 being adapte( to ride into the grooves or sockets of the slide rods when the latter have been shifted into a speed change position, thereby bringing a groove or socket into register with the free end or roller-carrying portion of the short arms of the respective levers. As is clearly shown in Figures 3 to 6. the levers 32 and 33 are arranged so that the rod 39 and the I long arms thereof extend transversely of the to receive the end of a coil spring 42 whose opposite end is shown bearing .against the side 'of the housing 30; the spring 42 normally tends to force the rod 39 with fork 40y toward the left. in Figure 1; that is to say toward the end of the transmission shaft which extends into the auxiliary housing 30.` The hub of the shifting fork is shown provided with an upwardly disposed lug or pin as at 43 on which is oselllatably mounted a bell-crank member or lever 44. The bellcrank lever-or member 44 is' preferably of the construction more clearly shown in Figure 8, that is to say with the arms'of the lever preferably radlating from the hub portion in different horizontal planes, namelywith the onev arm in a plane slightly above `that of the other in order that the one arm o'f lever 44 may extend and lie in thesame plane as Ithe-lon arm 36 of lever 32, whileVJ the'other arm -o the bell-crank lever 44 extends in the same.y plane as the long arm 36 of the lever 33. When the levers 32, 33 and 44 are in normal position, or rather when the itransmisslop 1s 1n neutral position, the endsy I `of the long arms of levers 32 and 33 will be substantiall in alignment with the pivotal points of t 'e levers and therefore substantially, parallel with each other as shown in yFigure- 6; with the ends of the bell-crank l lever 44 bearing against the ends of the long arms of levers 32 and 33.

The clutch end 15 of transmission shaft 13 is shown counterbored to receive suitable anti-friction bearings and the reduced end of the -driven shaft 45 which is disposed through the auxiliary housing and provided with suitable bearin s as at 46. The inner vend'o'f the'driven s aft 45 is splined and provided with a clutch member 47 which is' ada ted to engage with the clutch member 15 ormed on or secured to the adjacent end of the transmission shaft 13 and with which the driven shaft is in axial/ alignment. The

slidableclutch member 47 is controlled by the fork-40, whereby` clutch member 47 is moved lengthwise of the driven shaft 45 either into or out of intermeshing or clutching relation with 4the clutch element or member 15 secured to the transmission-shaft 13. As is apparent from the construction shown, the sprlng 42-ex`erts constant pressure on the fork 40 in a direction tending to shift clutch member 47 intojclutehin enga ement with clutch member 15; the c utch s ifting fork 40, however7 is controlled by the position of the bell-crank lever 44 which in tur'n is controlledv by the long arms of the levers 32 and 33; that is to say, when the ends of the long arms of levers 32 and 33 are substantially in alignment as shown in Figures 3 and 6, thebell-crank lever 44 will be held against tilting or oscillation and .therefore will cause y the fork 40 to be held against the actlon'of spring 42. l

'If he transmission control lever 28 is oscillated and brought into operative engagement with the shifting fork26 and the latter moved to the left in 'Figures 1 and 6,

gear 17 on transmission shaft `13 will be shifted into mesh with gear 22 on the countershaft. This will also cause rod 24 to be shifted to the left, thereby -moving the groovel or socket 31 at the right hand end or rod 24 into position for the roller-cal'- ryingend of arm 37 of the lever 32, allowing the roller to enter the groove or socket,

which will permit lever 32to oscillate on its pivotal point so as to swing the long arm 1 outwardly as shown in Figure 4. As the fork member 40 on which the bell-crank lever 44 is pivoted, is under constant spring" pressure, .the bell-crank lever therefore is `also yieldingly held against the` long arms of the levers 32 and 33.` As a'result of the outward movement of the long arm lof lever 32, as shown in Figure 4, the resistance offered by the bell-crank lever 44, to fork member 40, is releasedand the fork member 40 with rod 39 permitted to move to the left in Figures 1 and 6 sufficiently to bring the clutch 47 into clutching engagement with clutch member 15, thereby coupling the driven shaft 45 to the transmisslon shaft.

As is apparent from the construction shown, Y

complete clutching engagement between members 47 andl l'can only take place when the short arm of the lever 32 has entered one of the sockets or grooves in theslide rod 24, namely a position vinduced by a s'uicient shifting in e1ther direction ofthe fork'- carrying slide-rod 24 necessar' for shifting gear 17 into mesh either wit thegear 22 on the countershaft or an idler gear (not shown) for inducing reverse operation; such ositionin of the gear 17 producin either rst (low speed or reverse, as t e case may be.`

If the control lever-28 isloscillated so as to engage with the shifting fork 27 secured to slide rod 25 and the lever sufliciently operated to shift earA 16 on the transmission shaft 13 to t e left in Figure 1, the transmission shaft will be directly coupled to the drive shaft 12 and the groove or socket A31 on the slide-rod 25 will be posi` tioned to receive the roller or short arm of lever 33'. This will permit the lever 33 to l oscillate about its pivotal point and the long arm thereof allowed to move to the left in the mechanism as viewed in Fi re 6, which therefore permits the bell-cra lever`44 to shift from its normal position and allows slight shifting movement of rod 39 with fork 40 (due to the pressure spring 42 and', ppsitioning the mechanism as illustrated in' igure which forcesthe clutch member 47 into clutching engagement with clutch member 15, wherebythe driven shaft 45 is placed in operative relation with or coupled to the transmission shaft 13.,

It is apparent that movement of oper ating of control lever 28 Ain the opposite direction While in engagement with shifting fork 27 will cause gear 16 to be slid lengthwise of transmission shaft 13 and into mesh tion between the transmission shaft y13 and t drivensh'aft 45 will be provided after gear 16 has been shifted for the intermediate eed, produced fromv the driveshaft 1:?, through its gear 18 and gears 19 and 21 on countershaft 20 and through gear 16 to the transmission shaft which in turn transmits rotation to the driven shaft by the clutch members 15 and 17'o As is apparent 'from the4 construction shown and-described, the transmission shaft 13 is placed out of loperative relation with the driven shaft 45, and is therefore re- .lieved of the load or momentum of the ve,-

hicle during' each; speed change the transmission -shaft being entirely free from load while the gears are being shifted, inasmuch as the drive shaft 12 is usually disconnected i from the engine or crank-shaft during shifting of the transmission gears, through ma# nipulation of the usual foot controlled Vfront clutch (notshown). As a result of my invention, the shifting of the gears on the i transmission shaft and their engagement with the gears on the countershaft or with the clutch gear on the drive shaft may be smoothly and easily effected without clash-- ing and the resultant noise and damage frequently encountered withtransmissions at present in use; the shifting from one speed to another, in either direction, being readily and easily carried out while the vehicle is travelino` at a considerable speed.

In order to facilitate the shifting of the ears from a neutral position into any ofthe desired speeds, it may be desirable to keep the transmission shaftv in motion, especially when coasting or running under .the momentum of the vehicle, and for that reason I show the slide rods 24 and 255 each pro;i

vided with a shallow groove or notch 48 intermediate of the deep grooves 31 and 31a. When the slidel rods 24 and 25 have been shifted so as to move all of the slidable gears out of meshing relation, thegrooves 48,-intermediate of and slightly spaced apart lfrom the deeper grooves 31 and S12-will' be in position to receive the rollers on the ends of the short arms of the levers 32 and 33 and allow slight tilt of the long arms of levers A32 and 33 sufficient to permit slight advancing movement by lever 44 and therefore of'rod 39 and its clutch fork or arm 40. As a result of this movement of said elements, clutch member 47 will be allowed to partially seatlorform initial clutching engagement, say to about onesixteenth'of an inch, sulicient to keep the transmission shaft and its gears in motion to facilitate shifting of the gears into complete meshing relation without ratcheting.

It is apparent, however, that a neutral or non-driving relation Vbetween transmission shaft and the driven shaft is obtained momentarily in advance of the shifting of the gears, either into or out of meshing relation.

, The housing 30 in which the driven shaft section 45 is located also houses the speedometer driving mechanism which comprises a suitable worm gear 49, secured to the driven-shaft section 45, arranged in mesh with a worm 5() rotatably mounted in a two `part sleeve 51 removably secured in the lower part of the auxiliary housing 30.

' The one part of sleeve 51 is preferably closed at one end, adapted to hold lubricant; While the opposite end of the other part of the sleeve is shown flanged to abut against the side of the housing 30 and also has an enlaroed end orhubportion 51 to receive the en of worm shaft 50 has operative relation which permits of easy assembly and dissociation' while the part ofsleeve 51 provides amplel bearing for the worm-shaft 50 to permit easy operation and proper lubrication.

l While the transmission illustrated in the drawings merely disclosesthree speeds forward and one reverse, it is evident that any number of speed vchanges may be provided and that the respective shifting, fork-carryin'g slide-rods may be provided vwith a number of grooves or sockets corresponding with the number of speed changes effected by the slide-rod, yor the number of gears controlled thereby; it beine' understood that the grooves or notches in the slide-rods are positioned and spaced apart in a predetermined manner; the deepl grooves correspondingto the distance of .travelof'the sliding gears necessary to effect a speed change and the'shallow grooves arranged intermediate of the deep of a small shaft 52 with which the'end grooves; while at the same time suflicientspacing between the respective grooves or notches is providedto constantly produce s u momentary declutching or dissociation of the clutch members and 47 during shifting of the slide-rods with their gears into the different speed producing positions.

5 I have shown a simple adaptation of my invention, rwhich has been described in terms lemployedgnerely as termsv of description land not as terms of limitation, as structural modilicat'ions are possible and may be made with- '19 out, however, departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

What I claim is c 1. In a transmission, a transmission shaft, an aligned driven shaft section, a clutch l5 whereby the two shafts may be operatively -connected, cooperating transmission gears -for providing different speed changes, certain of said gears being slidably mounted, K slide-rods operatively connected with the slidable gears and provided with actuating surfaces correlated to the speed change positions ofthe slidable gears, spring controlled means whereby said clutch is forced into clutching position, and means arranged to control said spring controlled means and caused to operate by the actuating surfaces of the slide-rods whereby said clutch effects clutching condition when the slidable gears are positioned to provide the desired speed change'. v

2. In a transmission provided with a transmission shaft, coo erating transmission gears for-providing di erent speed changes, some of which gears are movable into and out of ,operative position, and an aligned drivenl shaft, coupling mechanism between said shafas, with a portion of the mechanism movable into and out of coupling position,

i y slide rods having operative 'connection with 40 the* movable gears, said rods being provided with actuating surfaces atv prearranged points correlated to the speed change producing positions of the movablegears, pressure means adapted to lforce the movable portion of the coupling mechanism into shaft coupling ositlon,v and means intermediateI of the s ide rods and said pressure means whereby the latter is permltted,y to operate when the actuating surfaces of a slide rod is brought to register with said last means.

, 3, In a transmission mechanism, the-combination of a drive shaft, a transmission shaft, a driven shaft, all arranged in axial alignment, and a countershaft, gears on the drive shaft, transmission shaft and countershaft, for effecting different speeds between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, certain vof the gears being` slidably mounted, slide rods adapted to shift the slidable gears, said rods being provided with sockets spaced apart lengthwise of the Vrods at points correlated to the meshing positions of the slidable gears, clutch 'mechanism intermediate of the transmission shaft and the driven shaft,

spring pressed means operatively connected with the clutch mechanism, and means intermediate of the slide rods and said `spring pressed means with a portion of said means being held in contact with said slide rods,

whereby the clutch mechanism is caused tomove into complete clutchingposition when a slide rod is-'positionedl where it effects av -speed change.

4. In transmlssion mechanism, the combinationof a drive shaft, a transmission shaft, a countershaft and a driven shaft, different speed change producing elements arranged on the drive shaft, countershaft and transmission shaft, the elements'on one of the shafts being movable into and out of opera- 'nsI tive relation with the .elements on the other shafts, a plurality of slidably mounted members for controlling the movable-elements,

a clutchy intermediate of the transmission shaft and the driven shaft forl producing operative relation between the two shafts, means normally tending to move said clutch into clutching position, and meansrhavin operative relation with said last mentione means and with the slidably mounted members, whereby said last mentionedr means is held against operation during movement of a the movable elements, while operation of said last mentioned means is permitted when any one of the movable elements has been placed in intermeshing position.

5. In a transmission mechanism, a trans; mission shaft, acountershaft and a driven shaft, cooperating transmission gears for providing different speed changes, a portion of the gears being shiftable into meshing relation with the other gears, slidably mounted gear-shifting members adaptedto move in a direction lengthwise of the transmission shaft and the driven shaft, a clutch intermediate of the transmission shaft and the driven shaft for effecting operative relation clutch thereby permitted to move into shaft coupling position.

6. In a transmlssion mechanism, the combination of a transmission shaft and a driven shaft, speed'change producing gears, a portion of said gears being slidable into operative position a clutch interposed between said shafts vor effecting o erative relation between said shafts, sli ab y mounted gear shifting members arranged parallel with the tive, relation with the gear shifting members by said spring actuated means whereby the spring actuated means with the clutch are held out of clutch effecting position until a.

gear shifting member has reached a predetermined position. p

7. In a transmission'mechanism, a drive shaft, a transmission shaft, a driven shaft, all arranged in axial alignment, a countershaft, speed change producing gears on the drive shaft, countershaft and transmission shaft, with certain of said gears being shiftable into and out 'of operative position, slidably mounted rods for controlling said shiftable gears and arranged to extend parallel with the driven shaft, with the extended por- `tions of said rods being provided with sockets at predetermined points, a clutch intermediate of the transmission shaft and the two shafts, spring actuated means whereby the clutch is normally moved into clutching position, and pivoted means affected by the spring actuated means whereby said means are held against movement until the sockets of the slide rods are positioned to receive the ivoted means and a speed change has been e ected.

8. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of la transmission shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting the two Shafts, cooperating gears selectlvel engageable with each other to roduce di ferent speeds, slide rods for shi ting certain of the gears, provided with actuating surfaces, slidably mounted means for controlling the clutch, a plurality of levers pivoted intermediate of their ends, one of said levers being under spring pressure and operatively connected with said clutch controlling means, while the other levers are each interposed between one end of said rst lever and a slide-rod, whereby the first mentioned lever and the clutch controlling means are held against movementl until an actuating surface on a slide-rod is positioned to affect one of the last mentioned levers.

9. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of a transmission shaft, a driven shaft, a countershaft, a clutch interposed between the transmission shaft a'nd the driven -slida le into and out of meshing Y 1,ees,oae

slide rods by said spring pressed means whereby the clutch is held in non-clutching position until a socket ofany one of the slide-rods is'brought to register with said last means. v

10.f In a transmisslonnechanlsm, the combination of a drive shaft, a transmission shaft, a-driven shaft all` arranged inaxial alignment, a'countersh on the drive shaft, transmission shaft and countershaft, certain of said gears being shiftable into and out of operative position, a slidably mounted element for each shiftable gear, a clutch intermediate of the trans-` aft, cooperating gears 11. In a transmission mechanism, the

'combination ofk a drive shaft, a countershaft, a transmission shaft, a driven shaft, aclutch interposed between the transmission shaft and driven shaft, cooperating gears on lthe drive shaft, countershaft and transmission shaft for providino' different speeds, the gears on the transmission Shaftbeing shiftable into and out of meshing position, a

pluralityy of slidably mounted gear shifting rods provided with sockets at points correlated to the meshing positions of the gears, a spring actuated clutch controlling member, and a plurality of pivoted members intermediate of said clutch controlling member 'and said gear Vshifting rods whereby the clutch moves into shaft coupling position when a socket on the rods is positioned to lreceive a portionof the pivoted members.

l l2. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of a drive shaft, a countershaft, a transmission shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch intermediate of the transmission shaft and driven shaft, (2o-operating gears on the drive shaft, countershaft and transmission shaft for effecting differenti speed changes, with the ears on the transmission shaft being l osition, a plurality of gear-shifting slide rods, springactuated means for controlling said clutch, and means intermediate of said spring-actu,- ated means and all of said slide-rods Whereby said clutchis moved into open position when said s lide-rods are actuated.

13. Ina transmission mechanism, a drive shaft, a countershaft, a-transmission shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch -interposed between the transmission shaft and the driven shaft, cooperating gears on the drive shaft, countershaft and transmission shaft for effecting different speed changes, certain of said gears bemg shdably mounted, a plurality of gear member, and means mounted intermediate 'of the clutch controlling member and the slide rods and yieldingly' held in contact with the latter whereby movement of said means is inducedwhen the actuating surfaces of any one' of the slide rods are brought to register with said means and theclutch thereby caused ,to move into clutching position.

14. In a transmission, the combination of a transmission shaft, a, driven shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting the two shafts, cooperating gears selectively engageable with each other to produce different speeds, sliderods for shifting certain of the gears, said rods being provided with sockets corresponding. with the number of speed changes effected by said slide-rod,'a spring pressed slidable element for forcin lthe clutch into clutching position, a lever plvotally mounted intermediate of`its ends on said element, a

lever intermediate of each end Aof the :fi lever and a slide-rod, with one end o of the last mentioned levers bearing a gainst the socketed face of a slide-rod,.whereby"the` spring pressed element and the clutch are held against movement until a socket on a slide-rod is brought to register with the end of one of the last mentioned levers. v

15. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of a transmission'shaft, -a driven shaft, gears slidable on the transmission shaft for effecting speed changes,'a clutch member secured to the end ofthe transmission shaft, a second clutch vmember secured to the adjacent ,fend of the driven shaft, slide-rods for shifting said slidable gears, slidable means for actuating one -of the clutchA members, and composite means in termediate of the slide-rods and said slidable means whereby the latter is actuated'when the slide-rods reach predetermined positions.A

16. In a transmiion mechanism, the combination of|ahousing, a transmission shaft, a driven' ,shaft section, both rotatably mounted in said housing, gears slidable on said transmission shaft, a clutch member sel cured to one end ofthe transmission shaft adjacent to the driven-shaft section, Aa second clutch member secured to the drivenshaft section, gear-shifting slide-rods in said .hous-f ing and provided with s aced grooves or sockets at points correlate to the de ee of movement of the slidable ears, clutc -operating mechanism slidable in the housing intex-mediate of the slide-rods, and composite lever mechanism intermediate of said clutcho' eratin mechanism and the socketed sides o the s 'de-rods whereby operative engagement of the clutch members is permitted when the slide-rods are in predetermined positions.

17. In a transmission mechanism, the com- Sill operative position, gear shifting slide rods provided with actuating surfaces at' points correlated tothe speed change positlo'ns of the gears, means for controlling said clutch,

vand com osite lever mechanism tiltably mounted lntermediateof said clutch controllin means and the actuating surfaces of the sli e-rods, portions of said vlever mechanism being in constant operative contact with said 'slide-rods to be actuated bythe surfaces on the slide-rods, whereby partial engagement of the clutch is effected when certain of the actuating surfaces on the slide-rods are in register with the lever mechanism and complete engagement of the clutch is eifected when other actuating surfaces on said slide rodsare in register with the lever mechanism, While a ldeclutching of the clutch is effected during shifting ofthe slide-rods.

18. In a transmission mechanism, a trans-y mission shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting the two shafts, cooperating gears for producin different speed changes, gear-shifting sli e-rods, 4'means `whereby said clutch is controlled, and means intermediate of each gear-shifting slide-rodI and said first means 'whereby the latter is controlled andthe clutch held open While the slide-rods are effecting speed changes.

19. In a vtransmission mechanism, the combination of a transmission shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting the two shafts, cooperatin gears, selectivel engageable with each ot er to produce different speeds, slidable elements for shifting a predetermined number of said gears, means for `actuating said clutch, andmeans intermediate of said last meansl and said slidable elements whereby said clutch -is held open during movementof the slidable elements.

20. In a transmission mechanism, the Vcombination of la transmission shaft, -a driven shaft, a clutch for operatively connecting .the two shafts, cooperatin gears, selectively engageable with yeach ot er to produce different speeds, slide rods for shifting certain of gears, each of said slide rods being provided with actuating surfaces correspondlng in number with the number of speed changes effected thereby, and clutch controlling means intermediate of said 'clutch and said slide rods whereby the clutch is maintained in open position until said actuating surfaces reach predetermined positions relativeto said clutch controlling means.

21. A transmission comprising, in combi'- nation with a housing provided with a transmissiony shaft, acountershaft,` cooperating gears selectively engageable with each other slide-rods, the ends ofthe slide-rods inthe supplemental housing being provided with sockets corresponding with the number of speed changes effected by each slide-rod, a

driven shaft mounted in saidsupplementalA ,housing in alignment with the transmission shaft, a clutch member secured to the end of the transmission shaft, a second clutch member slidably secured to the end of the driven shaft, spring controlled means for actuating said second mentioned clutch member, and means intermediate of the spring controlled means and the socketed portions of the slide-rods whereby the spring-controlled means and the second mentioned clutch member are held against movement until a socket in a slide-rod is brought into register with said last means. l

22. In a motor vehicle transmission, the combination with a motor driven changespeed gear set comprising a plurality of shifter rods, and an auxiliary clutch operatively connecting said gear set to a driven means, of means actuated by one of said shifter rods for effecting disengagement of said auxiliary clutch.

23. In a motor vehicle transmission mechanism, the combination with a motor driven change-speed gear set comprising aplurality of shifter rods, and an auxiliary clutch operatively connecting said gear set to a driven means, ofa single means actuated by said shifter rods for actuating said auxiliary clutch.

24. In a motor vehicletransmissioii mechanism, the 4combination with a motor driven change-speed gear set comprising a plurality of shifter `rods, andan auxiliary clutch operatively connecting said gear set to a driven means, of a single means actuated by one of said shifter rods for moving said auxiliary clutch to its open position, and resilient means for reclosing the same.

25. Transmission' mechanism for a motor driven vehicle comprising in combination, a pair of gear shifter rods, means for operating them, a transmission shaft, a differential drive shaft, means for rotatively connecting and disconnecting said shafts, means con? trolled by the movementl of either shifter rod to a neutral position for positively disconnecting them andautoinatic means for connecting them when either shifter rod is moved to engaged position.

26. Transmission mechanism for a motor driven vehicle comprising in combination, a

and disconnecting said shafts, means controlledfby the movement of either shifter rod to a neutral position for positivelydisv connecting them and automatic means for gradually connecting them when either shifter rod is movedto-engaged position.

27. Transmission mechanism for ay motor driven vehicle. comprising in combination,I a pair of gear shifter rodsmeans for operating them, a transmission shaft, a differential drive i shaft, means including a movable member for rotatively connecting or discon-l tion with shiftable spee changing elements,

and means for shifting said elements, 1n

cluding parts individual to the shiftable `elements and operable independentl of each other, of a clutch including a shifta le member, shiftable out of and into engaging position during each sgped shifting operation, and means operable y any one of said partsfor shifting the clutch member.

29. In a transmission gearing, the com? bination with shiftable speed changing elements, andmeans for shifting said elements, comprising endwisely movable shifting rods for said elements said rods bein operable independently,- of each other, o a clutch 'shiftable into and outof engagin position,

during the shifting of any one o said ele-V ments, and means operable by said rods for shifting the clutch member.

30. In a transmission gearing comprising driving and driven shafts, the driven shaft having an extension, shiftable speed changing elements between the driving and driven shafts for providing selective s eed -changes and a clutch including a shi table section between the driven shaft4 and its extension,

`means for shifting said 'element comprising an endwisely movable rod operatively connected with said element and provided with actuating surfaces correlated to the shiftin positions of said rod, spring controlle' means operable by the actuatin on said/ rod for shifting the shifta le section of the clutch between the driven shaft and its extension, and a plurality of tiltably mounted members intermediate of said sprinr controlled means and' the endwise movable rod ada ted to have operative relation with each ot er-when one of said members is engaged by an actuating surface on said rod.`

3l. In a transmissionI gearing,.the combination with shiftable speed changing elements, and means for shiftingsaid elements,

ino

icc

surfaces mesme comprising endwisely movable shifting rods for said elements, of a clutch shiftable into and out of engaging position, during the shifting of any one of said elements, and means operable by said rods for shifting the clutch member, said rods havingmeans for positively operating the clutch, shifting means to shift the clutch member into engaging position, and said shifting means for the clutch member including a spring for yieldingly moving the clutch member into engaging position.

32. In combination with a transmission gearing, comprising shiftable s eed changing elements, and means for s ifting said elements, including parts'individual to said elements, and operable independently of.

each other, said parts being formed with cam surfaces, of a clutch including a member shiftable out of and into engaging position during the shifting of each element,-

and means for shifting-the clutch, comprising a motion transmitting member having followers coacting with the cam surfaces of HELMUTH A. SCHULTZE. 

